Four Relationships between Manas and Mind Consciousness

Psychological problems in people are generally problems of the manas. When the manas long goes without understanding and outlet, and has been suppressed for a long time, psychological problems arise, manifesting various psychological symptoms. To guide and resolve the manas's psychological problems, one way is to rely on other people who understand psychology, and another is to rely on one's own mind consciousness. If the mind consciousness clearly understands the psychological state of the manas, and possesses methods for solving problems, along with the ability and wisdom to solve them, it can gradually and step by step guide and release the manas's psychological emotions, letting the manas open its heart and comprehend the meaning, dispelling depression, so that suppressed emotions are guided and released.

Generally speaking, there are roughly four kinds of relationship between the manas and the mind consciousness. When the mind consciousness and the manas are in harmonious accord, there are two situations; when the mind consciousness and the manas are not in harmonious accord, there are also two situations.

In the first situation, the manas is wholesome and the mind consciousness is also wholesome; the two are in harmonious accord in wholesomeness. The mind consciousness does not go against the manas, and moreover can enhance the wholesomeness of the manas. The result is wholesomeness without any hesitation, wholesomeness done with wholehearted delight, wholesomeness from the inside out. There is no psychological problem; after doing wholesome deeds, the mind feels even more refreshed. This is great wholesomeness, which can yield great wholesome retribution; the seeds of wholesome karma ripen quickly, and the wholesome retribution is received quickly as well.

In the second situation, the manas is unwholesome and the mind consciousness is also unwholesome; the two are in harmonious accord in unwholesomeness. The mind consciousness does not contradict the manas in the slightest, and moreover will enhance the unwholesomeness of the manas. The two will then join together in unwholesomeness done with wholehearted delight, without hesitation. After committing unwholesome karma, one feels even more delighted and psychologically comfortable, feeling no shame or remorse. There is no psychological problem, but this is great unwholesomeness; the seeds of unwholesome karma ripen quickly, and the unwholesome retribution is received quickly as well.

In the third situation, the manas is unwholesome while the mind consciousness is wholesome. When the mind consciousness is single-mindedly oriented toward goodness, the manas feels uncomfortable and is unwilling to be good, but under environmental pressure it has no choice but to be good. Psychological problems will then arise in the manas, and afterward it may feel regret. Sometimes this psychological problem can be resolved, and sometimes it cannot. This belongs to true unwholesomeness and false goodness; the essence is unwholesome. If the unwholesome power of the manas is greater than the power of the environment, and the mind consciousness's goodness is relatively weak, having no influence on the manas, with the permeation failing, then unwholesome karma will be committed—this is true unwholesomeness. But it is not always so. If the mind consciousness is permeated by a good environment, becoming more and more wholesome, and influences the manas, overcoming the manas's unwholesomeness, then afterward it may commit wholesome karma and no longer do evil.

In the fourth situation, the manas is wholesome while the mind consciousness, influenced by the environment, has unwholesome thoughts. When the manas is coerced by the environment into being unwholesome, there will be psychological shadows, repression, and remorse. Sometimes this psychological problem can be resolved through repentance and remediation, and sometimes it cannot be remedied, and the knot in the manas's mind is then tied. This belongs to true goodness and false unwholesomeness; the essence is not corrupted. If the wholesome power of the manas is relatively strong and the unwholesome power of the mind consciousness is weak, unable to overcome the goodness or permeate it, then in the end the manas's goodness takes charge and commits wholesome karma. But this does not mean it is always so. If the unwholesome environment persists and the unwholesome power of the mind consciousness grows stronger, the manas may also comply with the mind consciousness's unwholesomeness and decide to commit unwholesome karma, in which case the manas has been successfully permeated by unwholesomeness.